Selectivity Control in Homogeneous Catalysis

Abstract

Selectivity is one of the most important features of homogeneous catalysis. Many different kinds of selectivity are discernible in catalytic reactions; it can be broadly divided into (a) product selectivity and (b) substrate selectivity. In synthetic organic reactions, one is generally interested in product selectivity because the synthesis generally aimes at making complex molecules from simple substrates. Already homogeneous catalysis have gained sufficient credit for its high product selectivity. Thus, a variety of products (dimers, trimers, and polymers) have been selectively obtained from butadiene.1 Each products has grossly different molecular structure, i. e. linear or cyclic. Recent progress of homogeneous catalysis has also provided a delicate control of the product stereochemistry.